Innovation Crush

To celebrate the launch of Mercedes-Benz EQ -- a new electric vehicle -- OK Go front man, Damian Kulash joins Innovation Crush and discusses the creation of the Stress Inversion Transformer (SIT). Damian's vision in exploring "EQ" was to figure out away to turn negative energy into positive energy. So naturally (and because science), he built a booth that allows humans to exactly that. Along the way we discuss personal brand, the creative process, the SIT's upcoming world tour, and answer a few audience questions.

As the co-founder and CEO of PROHBTD, Drake Sutton-Shearer has created one of the leading brands inside and adjacent to the cannabis industry. PROHBTD doubles as a content platform and product engine focused on the intersection of cannabis and pop culture. From fashion to gastronomy to music and smart business insights, the brand has become an icon both domestically and internationally, and reaching fans by the tens of millions each month. An entrepreneur since, age 14, Drake holds multiple patents in technology and social applications, and has unique ability to spot opportunities where others may not. Whether creating the world's top social gifting company, founding a Grammy winning talent management firm, or leading branding and design for the likes of Warner Bros, Sony and Universal; Drake is as brutally smart as he is driven. His work has been featured on CNN, Advertising Week, Variety, Huffpost, Billboard, Digiday, Wall Street Journal and on the cover of leading Cannabis B2B publication MG Magazine..

Richelle Parham is a pioneer in retail marketing and business -- and by default, professional development. Having served as the CMO of eBay, she practically revolutionized the concept of email marketing. She serves on the boards of Best Buy, e.l.f. Cosmetics, LabCorp, and formerly Scripps Network, and is a VC at Camden Partners. Her career has been fueled by a seemingly endless loop of feedback from employees, leaders, customers, life itself, and what she dubs as her own "Personal Board of Directors," a formalized network of friends, colleagues, and family who help guide her career and personal decisions. Recorded live at WeWork (we.co/crush), Richelle discusses the evolution of retail, her own super powers, growing up around the death business, and making a recent jump from business leader to start-up founder.

Having been in the CIA for almost 28 years, Darrell Blocker has seen and done it all. As the director of operations, he was awarded the George H. W. Bush Award for Excellence in Counterterrorism in 2014. He ran The Farm - the CIA's training facility - for 3 years, and was even the member of a well known band in Uganda while undercover there. If it's one thing he understands, it's human connection. What motivates us? How can we motivate others? How can we do away with perceptions and ego the like, and remain in service to the people we work with and serve? Now as a news contributor, Hollywood consultant, and business advisor, Darrell is applying his skills in new ways, and he stops by Innovation Crush to discuss it all. Recorded live at WeWork. More info at We.co/Crush.

What do Paul Rudd, Keanu Reeves, Venture Capital, and Stephen Hawking have in common? Dr. Spiros Michalakis. As one of the most sought after scientists of our time, he serves as a quantum physicist and manager of outreach at The Institute for Quantum Information and Matter at Caltech (IQMC). When not at Caltech or fulfilling his role as professor-in-residence at Relay Ventures, he spends a good majority of his time consulting with Hollywood's biggest filmmakers and talent in applying quantum design thinking and scientific accuracy to their stories. Films like ANT MAN, NOW YOU SEE ME, CAPTAIN MARVEL, DR. STRANGE and others have all been graced by his knowledge and expertise. Using a combination of science and entertainment as an educational tool, Spiros' personal mission is to disrupt business, creativity, innovation -- and the practice of science itself -- with an understanding of quantum theory. On this episode , Spiros discusses his life and his message, becoming a personal brand, and the time he got

Fresh off a 2019 Billboard 100 nod, and multiple 2019 Grammy nominations to boot, CMO of the Blueprint Group, Al Branch joins Innovation Crush. As partner and CMO of Blueprint/Maverick, Al has been legendary in catapulting some of music industry talent into superstardom and beyond. From his early days with Jay-Z and Roc-a-fella to a current portfolio that includes acts like Nicki Minjaj, G-Eazy, The Roots, Jill Scott, and more, Al has had an uncanny knack for understanding how artists become iconic brands, and how important brands work with iconic artists. Whether pairing Drake with Sprite, or Kanye with Nike (pre-Yeezys) or Lil Wayne with Samsung, Al is an expert team building, creative visioning, cultural anthropology, and does it all with a smile. On this installment of the show, Al talks about passion versus talent, waiting outside of a record label for weeks on end to get an internship, his vision for the future of the talent management business. we.co/crush

As pastor of Zoe Church, Chad is a pioneer of his own design, redefining what it takes to be a religious leader and business owner in today's culture. Leading thousands each week in his home town of Los Angeles -- and more around the world -- Chad has redefined everything around the message, without disrupting the core of the message itself. Whether partnering with the likes of designer Jerry Lorenzo and creating record-selling "church merch" pop ups, shooting rounds of golf with Chris Pratt, or even getting matching tattoos with Justin Bieber, Chad has managed to place God squarely at the center of pop culture. With a year-round cadence of experiences ranging from conferences to charitable outings to digital learning, Chad/Zoe have acquired close to half-a-million social media followers, and managed to organize a plethora of giving within the city and around the world. On this episode of Innovation Crush, Chad discusses everything from the influence of hip hop to becoming an entrepreneur, adapting to tec

Legendary DJ, producer, inventor and community builder, Jeffrey Allen Townes - aka DJ Jazzy Jeff, has been at the helm of music culture since the mid-'80's. Originally one half of the duo, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Jeff was literally instrumental in the catapulting of Will Smith's career, and has gone on to give rise to several artists ranging from Eminem to Darius Rucker, The Roots, Jill Scott, and more. A self proclaimed "messenger," the Grammy award-winning Jeff is adept at building mass connections, has partnered in developing industry technologies, and helps his industry collaborators explores the emotional side of their careers through his annual Playlist Retreat in Delaware. Recorded in New Zealand, Jeff joins Innovation Crush to discuss how to deepen emotional connections with audiences, secrets to longevity, authenticity, and remaining a life long learner.

With a unique combination of artificial intelligence and social data, Ryan and Chris Detert's Influential.co is leading the revolution as to how the world engages with persons of influence. As one of only five IBM "With Watson" partners, the company uses vast and unique data sets to understand and recommend digital marketing initiatives and brand action. From psychographics to mobile behavior to predictive intelligence and everything in between, Influential has helped companies like Sony Pictures, Coca Cola, Wells Fargo, BMW, Unilever, and more to successfully navigate the nuances of converting would-be customers into fans. Recorded live at C2 Montreal, the brothers-at-arms dish on everything from trust to technology and working together as family. More on C2 at www.c2montreal.com.

After an upsetting second place finish on America's Best Dance Crew in 2015, the fan favorite Kinjaz turned their loss into a huge win, by going on to form the first ever crowd-funded global dance studio ($127,000), and the highest raised ever in the dance category on Indiegogo. Since then, the group has opened up 3 studios in the US and China, launched an international camp program, and a line of merchandise ranging from watches to hats to jackets, and racked up millions of interactions across social media. Additionally, they've worked with brands and partners ranging from McDonald's to AT&T, Bruce Lee, and Volkswagen to name a few. On this episode, co-owner Ben Chung (formerly of the Jabbawockeez) and choreographer/teacher Charles Nguyen speak on their inspirations, building community, and balancing art and business, and managing the expectations of 30+ crew members.

Behavioral scientist, author, brand expert, and professional connection maker, Jon Levy is no stranger to creating memorable moments. Whether an every-day meet and greet, or hosting over 1000 invite-only influencer dinners, or through his book on adventure, "The 2AM Principle" Jon's expertise is rooted in studying and elevating the impactful connections we make 1:1 or en masse. His work has been featured in New York Times, Forbes, Business Insider, Inc, and Fast Company to name a few, and he currently works alongside famed bank-robber-turned-neuroscientist, Moran Cerf inside the C Lab at the Kellogg School of Management. On this episode, Jon walks us through several scientific and historical moments that explain how we connect, discusses his desire to change his awkward childhood, and tons of quirky, sophisticated tips and tricks for becoming a great connector.

As the first-ever Director of Venture and Innovation for Homeland Security, Molly Cain has learned to redefine "disruption" for herself and for the overall safety of the United States. Prior to her time in government, Molly had been recognized as one of the top 25 women in technology, having run Tech Wildcatters, the #6 incubator in the country, and a Forbes columnist raking in over 10 million reads of her perspectives on innovation. In redefining disruption within DHS, she has learned to focus more on the process of innovation rather than the end product. From rallying stakeholders, to implementing small scale products and processes, to introducing wonder-filled experiences, navigating cultural opinions, or even building a laymen team that thrives government, all while being citizen of the very country she's serving. Recorded at the Day of Innovation in Indianapolis, Molly discusses the ups and downs of her time inside Homeland Security, stretching her own expertise, bring a sense of wonder to her work, and

Each year, over 1 million people participate in Spartan Race - the world's #1 adventure race - overcoming obstacles, physical breaking points, mental fatigue, and challenging conditions, all in effort to become become better human beings together. A hustler and entrepreneur since selling firecrackers at age eight, CEO and Founder, Joe De Sena, has seen and overcome insurmountable setbacks in both life and business. Along the way, he has adopted a philosophy of not only facing your fears, but facing them with a smile and with style. 41 countries, 275 events, and 2 books later, Joe and his team have built an online community of 5 million all adopting the spartan race philosophy in their own lives. Fresh off a new partnership with HubSpot, in this episode Joe completes his first Moorimgoong Martial Arts workout, discusses how he continues to challenge himself and his company, as well as how the Spartan lifestyle translates to traditional business practices. See Joe in the premier of HubSpot's BRILLIANT docuserie

As Microsoft's Senior Manager of Global Engagement, Purna Virji travels the world explaining the present day practical uses of some of the world's most advanced technology. A former award-winning journalist, theatrical stage manager, and communications specialist, Purna is adept at engaging audiences. Now with her vantage points on things like artificial intelligence, natural language processing, ad tech, chat bots, and Microsoft's suite of technological capabilities, Purna brings brands and businesses into the future through conversation and ideation. In this episode, recorded live at INBOUND, Purna breaks down our psychological connections to technology, tricks she uses to keep audiences engaged, and her personal passions about her work.

As Neilsen's first Chief Neuroscientist, Dr. Carl Marci has a unique vantage point on how we make decisions and how we can be influenced to make decisions. A physician, father of twins, and Rhodes Scholar, who later partnered with MIT on a number of neuroscience initiatives, Dr. Marci became the Founder/CEO of Innerscope Research, a firm that uses biometrics and other technologies to study psychology. At Nielsen, he helps understand viewership, content choices, messaging response and more. Recorded live at C2 Montreal, we explore the theme of transformational collisions-- encountering people or things that change our personal and business lives in impactful ways. More on C2, at www.C2Montreal.com.

As the head of global cultural marketing for Sonos, Jamaal Layne is no stranger to making brands culturally relevant. His resume reads like a who's who in the brand world and spans from adidas, to Converse, to Microsoft, Fader Magazine, LA's Line Hotel, Urb Magazine, Nike, and many more. He is a born and bred New Yorker who eventually made Los Angeles home, but has traveled the world as an expert in recognizing the distinct line between marketing to a culture vs marketing within a culture. Long story short, you can't have innovation without understanding the nuances of tapping into the people you need most. His current role allows him to align Sonos with heavy hitters from the entertainment world (record labels, artist, actors, producers, hosts, etc), in effort to educate, empower, and co-create. This episode of Innovation Crush, Jamaal opens up his marketing rule book, discusses his passion for technology, overcoming jadedness, and teaches some great lessons on creating the right connections.

Combining world class comic book writers and illustrators with complex and common illnesses, Dr. Kim Chilman-Blair's MedicineX is redefining medical education for patients and families. With over 30 (and counting) conditions "xplained," each story blends scientific insight from top global medical professionals, with personal patient/family stories, and allows for closed group discussion around each topic. Their first celebrity collaboration is with actor and perpetual activist, Esai Morales (La Bamba, Ozark, NCIS, Dora the Explorer), and focuses on his own history of migraines as well as his mother's ongoing struggle with Alzheimer's. This humor-filled and touching episode focuses on the explosion of MedicneX, Kim & Esai's camaraderie, the big pharma debate, biotech, and the future of storytelling. More at https://alzheimersxplained.com/

With a portfolio consisting of Gimlet Media, Macro Ventures, Fair, Thrive Market, Blavity and tons of others, Marlon Nichols is no stranger to picking and creating winners. The co-founder and managing partner at Cross Culture Ventures has rooted his company's philosophy in the phrase "Culture as Currency." Recorded live Urban Tech Connect, Marlon walks us through how adopting an inclusive approach to local and global cultures is at the heart of sourcing the next billion dollar company. See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnTVRm9_SdM.

Recorded live at C2 Montreal, Alex Bodman leads Spotify's Global Creative for marketing and communications. Whether working directly with artists like Gucci Mane or Ed Sheeran, or telling individual stories of any of Spotify's 150 Million Users, Alex and his team have become adept at putting people first as part of pushing the company's trajectory. On this episode, Alex breaks down his humanistic approach to intersection of messaging, technology, and entertainment. more info on C2 at www.c2montreal.com

Working alongside the likes of Skrillex, Miley Cyrus, Avril Lavigne, Paul Oakenfold, Christina Perri and others, Elmo Lovano has been considered one of the music industry's top talents. He has spent the majority of his career connecting good talent to great opportunities and vice versa. In 2008, Elmo created the weekly art and music event Camerata in Hollywood, which was a springboard for the careers of Young The Giant, Skrillex, Dead Sara, Rival Sons, the Growlers and more. Camerata ran for 200 straight weeks before concluding in December of 2010 when Elmo joined Christina Perri on her world tour. In February of 2017, Elmo launched Jammcard, a platform that Forbes described as a “LinkedIn for musicians." The Jammcard app won Best UI/UX at the Good Design USA Awards, and has created a series of live performance/networking events called "The JammJam," where performers ranging from Ty Dolla $ to Lady Gaga's guitarist jam for for a few hours with other industry pros -- all recorded in 360-degree virtual reality.